The communities of Haforiere, Hiyalla, Iloli, and Oguruny of Hiyalla Payam in Torit County of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State on Sunday resolved to end inter-communal fighting and revenge killings.
On Sunday, delegates from the six villages of Hiyalla Payam including Torit Municipality chiefs and youth gathered in Tirangore Boma led by Governor Louis Lobong Lojore in search of peace.
Some of the resolutions arrived at include identifying and arresting peace spoilers communities urged to hand over criminals, communities urged not to attack security forces sent to calm clashes.
William Tulio Patricio, Oguruny community called on the state government to intervene in restoring peace among the communities in Hiyalla.
“Honorable Governor with your state cabinet, help us. The type of things that happens to us here, is not good. Last time, Oguruny was burned down, Iloli was burned down and they united. Now they are beginning their troubles again. What I am requesting from you, my opinion as chairman of Oguruny community is if there is a conflict caused by Oguruny, send for us soldiers,” Tulio said.
Iyong Tito who hails from Iloli village said they have agreed to reconcile with the other communities but urged that they all maintain peace.
“You told us to reconcile, we will reconcile and make peace with Oguruny. We will bring a bull and they will bring a bull and reconcile on Tuesday or Wednesday,” Tito said.
Ohisio Hassan Gama, a representative from Haforiere said, “Hiyala has caused us suffering. I don’t know what Hiyala want. I accept that any person who causes any chaos, the law should take its course, and if the village people favor him or her, the village should be burned down.”
Meanwhile, Hiyalla Boma Chief John Oromo Oriho said, “In Hiyala there, I am going to tell them that when you go back to another place to cause trouble, Hiyala will be burned down.”
The community representatives all urged the government to intervene and quell any clashes and burn down villages causing chaos in the region.
However, Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore who headed the government’s delegation to Tirangore Village for the peace talks, stressed that the government will only use the rule of law to deal with criminals there.
He added that the government will not burn villages but instead arrest the criminals and bring them to book.
“The order today to all the six villages including Torit, every area or village that causes trouble, the government will come to that village and arrest the criminal and take the cows of the criminal,” Governor Lobong said. “Listen we will not burn the villages, we will arrest the criminal and take his or her belongings. Why burn the house? What has the house done? and you people said you will help the government to identify or tell whose child is this?
Many people have lost their lives in inter-communal conflicts and revenge attacks among the communities in Hiyalla Payam.
Source: Radio Tamazuj